Osaka, Japan, June 17, 2016 – The Japan Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (JVOAD) Preparatory Committee (Representative: Nobuyuki Kurita) held a founding meeting of the JVOAD on June 7, 2016, in aiming to incorporate as a specified non-profit organization. Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE: 4502) contributed JPY 90 million to the JVOAD Preparatory Committee for its founding.

Based on the issues identified in disaster response to the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, the intent of JVOAD is to “play a coordinating role among stakeholders across communities, areas and sectors for effective disaster relief activities, improve the environment for the needed assistance, and mitigate vulnerability to the future disasters through the lessons learned from various activities.” For the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes, JVOAD established a network among Kumamoto Prefecture, local NPOs and nationwide private organizations, and it has been active in the field from the day after the disaster.

The JVOAD initiative is in line with 11.b and 13.1 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in September, 2015.

11.b Develop and implement, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, holistic risk management at all levels.13.1 Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.